The Irish standard., 1887-10-08
RANDOM SHOTS.

RANDOM SHOTS.
The St. Paul Pioneer Press is sorely
troubled for the safety of the public
schools, and SO warmly warns all oppo-
nents Of the irreligious system that the
American people will never tolerate any
interference with free education, ETC.,
etc. II to establish and endow from the
public funds any church, sect or rel1g-
ion is contrary to justice and the spirit
of our constitution, is it not equally un-
just and unconstitutional to endow and
establish irreligion? The upholders Of
the present public school-great apos-
ties Of freedom--compel their fellow Cit
liens to support, system which they
cannot conscientlously use, a system
which they in fact abhor. 1t this be
freedom tell us what is tyranny. Let
the matter be clearly understood and we
have such faith in the justice Of the peo-
pie that we are certain that the evil can
not long survive. Catholics and other
opponents Of the endowment of non
Christianity are not opposed to but al
together in favor Of free schools. This
our adversaries attempt to cloud in
order that the Catholic church may be
represented as eager to deprive the peo-
pie of free education. What we Catho-
lies ask for ourselves we demand for all
simple justice. II we support our
own schools are we TO be compelled to
pay double tax for education? Just
now there is an outcry in England and
Wales against the established Episcopa-
liam church. Presbyterians, Lutherans
and all other Protestant dissenSers are
loudest in their denunciations Of The ill.,
Justice and scandal OF forcing men TO
pay for the maintenance of q system
which is opposed to their convictions.
Respect for conscience is the cry that
rings the death ,znell Of every tyranny.
The endowed ministers calmly answer:
s'WelI, our churches are open for you,
why do You not avail yourselves of the
incalculable benefits to be obtained
from our Institutions The answer re.
oeives from all lovers of justice 5lae rieli-
cule and scorn it deserves. Have the
champions of liberty who form and di-
rect public opinion IN Minnesota taken
:4~,l, L
In Thursday mornings Tribune the
secretary Of the Orphan Asylum board,
Roger Vail, exposes the bigot.y and
mendacity of the gentleman who does
the Truthful" James paragraphs in
that paper. The beautiful little stories
Of Catholic idol worship, permits to
commit sin, ETC., are just now out of
fashion, for Intelligent non-Carholics
prefer to learn from Catholic books what
the Church teaches; but under cover Of
a semi-joctllar manner Truthful
James reviyes the old slander that the
Church permits evil that good may
come. III this sort Of thing satisfies the
Tribune readers we do rot envy them
their hberality or common sense.
Abuse Rome and Romanism when
yon can do nothing BETTER was the ad-
wise OF learned English Protestant di-
vine to rather backward student just
appointed curate. TIE thing never
fails in securing ga good call'' and
though by no means calculated to
spread religious feeling it often does
good Indirectly when it in duces Protest
ants tc examine Catholic books. New
man, Manning, Colemdge, DIR. Ward,
Brownson and the many other great
thinkers and literary giants who, before
their conversion to Catholicity, were
very bitter Protestants can be consulted
with profit, and even the cheap Catholic
catechisn1s contain enough to convert
the unprecedented. Gibbons S'Faith OF
Our Fathers and Lamberts "Catholic
Belief can be had at any good book
store. CHURCHMAE.
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